Nutrients in the Prevention of Osteoporosis in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

The chronic character of inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, results in various complications. One of them is osteoporosis, manifested by low bone mineral density, which leads to an increased risk of fractures. The aetiology of low bone mineral density is multifactorial and includes both diet and nutritional status. Calcium and vitamin D are the most often discussed nutrients with regard to bone mineral density. Moreover, vitamins A, K, C, B12; folic acid; calcium; phosphorus; magnesium; sodium; zinc; copper; and selenium are also involved in the formation of bone mass. Patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases frequently consume inadequate amounts of the aforementioned minerals and vitamins or their absorption is disturbed, resulting innutritional deficiency and an increased risk of osteoporosis. Thus, nutritional guidelines for inflammatory bowel disease patients should comprise information concerning the prevention of osteoporosis.